Electric-light apparatus



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. A. SEYMOUR. ELECTRIC LIGHT APPARATUS.N0. 261,262. Patented Jul 18. 1882.

a c a c d Q g I z, a a

e i a 7" e 19 Jr 1' 7',

N PEYERS, Phumumu n lwr, Wish'mglovl. D, c.

(No Model.) 4 She'etsSheet 2.

H. A. SEYMOUR.

I ELECTRIC LIGHT APPARATUS. No. 261,262. Patented Ju1y18, 1882.

2&5

- W/T/VESSES @210 Model.) 4 Sheets-'-Sheet=3.

H. A. SEYMOUR.

ELECTRIC LIGHT APPARATUS.

No. 261,262. Patented Ju1yl8, 1882. -1

b l 1, 8 Q I E z a J[ b J Z,

W/f/VESSES v m VE/V r09 WITNESSES v,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

H. A. SEYMOUR.

ELECTRIC LIGHT APPARATUS. No. 261,262. Patented Ju1y18, 1882.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. SEYMOUR, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOE TOGEORGE W. STOOKLY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,262, dated July 18,1882,

Application filed January 14, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY A. SEYMOUR, ofWashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented. certain new anduseful Improvements in Electric-Light Apparatus; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in electric-light apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide vertically movable oradjustable electric lamps with devices for causing the current to passthrough the lamp when it is in its elevated position and forautomatically shunting or shortcircuiting the current around the lampwhen it is lowered for cleansing and renewing the carbons orextinguishing the light. By shunting the current around the lamp when itis lowered it enables the ditferent parts of the lamp to be handled byinexperienced attendants without danger of injury from electric shocks.

A further object of my invention is to provide electric lamps withdevices for raising the lamp to the greatest possible height in the roomwhen it is to be used, experience having shown that in the use ofelectric lights in stores, factories, and other like places the effectof the light is much more agreeable when it is situated at the highestpossible point in the room where it is to be employed.

With these ends in view my invention consists, first, in thecombination, with an adjustable electric lamp and electric conductorsconnected therewith, of a switch mounted on the lamp, and devices forautomatically opening the switch when the lamp is raised to its positionfor use and causing the current to pass through the lamp, and forautomatically closing the switch when the lamp is lowered, and therebyshunting or short-circuiting the current around or past the lamp.

My invention further consists in the combination, with an adjustableelectric lamp and electric conductors connected therewith, of a switchmounted on the lamp, and devices for automatically opening the switchwhen the lamp is raised to its position for use and cans ing the currentto pass through the lamp, and for automatically closing a shunt-circuitand opening the lamp-circuit when the lamp is lowered, and therebyshort-oircuiting the entire current around the lamp.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction andcombinations of parts, as will hereinafter be described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view partly in sideelevation and partly in vertical section of one form of electric-lightapparatus embodying my invention, the lamp being shown in its raisedposition. Fig. 2 is a similar view of another form of apparatus coirstructed in accordance with my invention, the lamp being shown in itsraised position. Fig.

3 shows the lamp illustrated in Fig. 2 when lowered forthe renewal ofthe carbons or other purpose. Fig. 4 illustrates another constructionand arrangement of parts in electric-light apparatus embracing myimprovement, the lamp being shown in its raised position. Figs. 5 and 6show the improved apparatus wherein counter-weights are employed in lieuof springs for retaining the lamp at any desired point of adjustment.

In the several figures, A represents the electrio lamp, which may be ofany desired type, form, or construction. In Fig. 1 the lamp is suspendedby flat metal ribbons B B, which are good conductors of electricity andconstitute part of the lamp-circuit. The lower ends of the metallicribbons B B are fastened to the staples or hooks a a, constituting theterminals of the lamp, the current passing through one of the ribbonsand one of the hooks to the lamp, and passing from the lamp through theother hook and ribbon. The metal ribbons B B are wound on drums GO,mounted on stationary journals 1) b, supported in non-conducting blocks0 0, suitably secured to the casing D. The drums O O are hollow, and areprovided with springs d for retaining the lamp at any desired point ofadjustment.

E E represent the main wire of the circuit, portion E of the wire beingsecured to the axle of the drum 0 and portion E of the wire to the axleof the drum 0. In order that the lamp may beraised to the highest pointpossible, the casing D is inserted in the ceiling between the joists dd,- and constructed withthe outwardly-projecting flanges c e, by whichit is firmly secured to the ceiling and practically flush therewith. Thecentral portion of the casing is constructed to form-a receptacle, F,for the lamptnbe G when thelanip is in its raised position. Thisconstruction and arran gement of the raising and lowering apparatus aresuch that the ceiling is not disfigured, and the lamp may be raised tothe highest possible point. The flat metal ribbons offer but littleresistance in coiling and uncoiling, and when coiled the current passesover the surface of the coil to the lower ends of the ribbons, andthence to the lamp, thereby offering-but little resistance to thepassage of the current. A metal strip or plate, H, is attached at oneend to the hook or staple a, and at its other end is bent upwardly andthen horizontally, as at h. The frame of the lamp has a metalprojection, h, extending upwardly therefrom.

To the hook or posta is pivoted the lever or switch I, the arm 2' ofwhich is forced in electrical contact with the part h and the arm 1"with the part h by the spiral. spring J when the lamp is lowered. Whenthe lamp is raised the stud K, made of any non-conducting material orconducting material insulated from the casing and fastened to thecasing, strikes the arm 6 of the switch or lever I, depressing it, asillustrated in Fig. 1, and thereby opening the circuit between the partshand i, and closing the circuit from the post a through the arm i andcontact-point h, causing the current to pass through the lamp. When thelamp is lowered the spring closes the circuit from the post a throughthe arm iand contact-point h and metal strip or conductor H to the posta, thereby short-circuiting the circuit, and also depresses the arm 2"and breaks its contact with h and opens the circuit'through the lamp.Hence when the lamp is lowered no portion of the current can passthrough the lamp, the entire current being automatically divertedthrough the shunt mounted on the lamp, thus rendering it perfectly safeto handle the lamp in cleansing and renewing the carbons. The lamp beingraised, the shunt is opened'and the current caused to pass through thelamp and produce the light. In Figs. 2 and 3 the casing containing thewinding-drums is suspended from the ceiling, it being fastened theretoby means of screws inserted through the outward- ]y-projecting flange 7'at the upper end of the casing. In this form of construction the lamp issuspended by wire cables or cords L L.

Instead of a two-armed lever or switch, as

shown in Fig. 1, for opening and closing a shuntcircuit between theterminals of the lamp, a switch, M, is used, which is depressed by thestud when the 'lamp is raised, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and causes thecurrent to pass through the lamp, and when the lamp is lowcred, as inFig. 3, the spring closes the shunt, and thereby short-circuits thecurrent around the lamp. As the shunt-circuit affords a path of veryslight resistance to the passage of the current, practically all of thecurrent will flow through the shunt and around the lamp, and

hence no provision is made in this case for opening and closing thelamp-circuit when the shunt-circuit is opened and closed. Either form ofconstruction may be used, as may be deemed preferable, my inventionincluding both forms. In Fig. at the construction and arrangementofparts are the same as illustrated in Fig. 1, with the exception that thecasing D is located below instead of above the ceiling.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have represented my improvement as embodied in lampraising and lowering apparatus, provided with counterweights instead ofsprings for retaining the lamp in any desired position, and showingtheemployment of chains as the flexible conductors for suspending the lamp.In Fig. 5 the chains N N pass over sprocket-wheels O O, which are inelectrical connection with the main line, and hence the current passesfrom one sprocket-wheel and over one chain to the lamp, and from thelamp by the other chain and sprocket-wheel. Chains N N are secured atone end to the lampterminals a a, and at their other ends tohooks,staples, or pins n n, insulated from the counter-weights P. Thecounter-weights in both Figs. 5 and 6 are provided with depending studsmade of non-conducting material, said studs serving to open theshunt-circuit when the lamp is raised In Fig.6the chains pass over thesprocket-wheels O O, thence downwardly around pulleys o o, journaled oninsulated axles mounted on the counter-weights, and thence upwardly,their upper ends being attached to insulated hooks or pins. Thisconstruction of lamp is adapted for use in places having very highceilings, and

in which the lamps are not raised to the ceiling, as in railroad-depots,halls, &c. Instead of employing flexible conductors for supportin g thelamp, I may use telescopic supports; or stationary columns or guide barsmight be used, and the automatic shunt combined with the lamp.

It is evident that many slight changes in the construction and relativearrangementof parts might be resorted to without departing from thespirit of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I donot restrict myself to the exact construction and arrangement of partsshown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with an electric lamp and adjustable supporting-conductors connected with the lamp, whereby the same may be raised andlowered, ot' a switch mounted on the lamp, and devices for automaticallyoperating the switch when the lamp is elevated to its position for use,and causing the current to pass through the lamp, and for automaticallyshunting the current around or past the lamp when lowered out ofposition for use, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination, with a vertically-ad justable electric lamp andflexible supportingconduetors connected therewith, of a switch mountedon the lamp, a spring or equivalent device for moving the switch in onedirection, and a stationary stud or projection arranged to automaticallymove the switch in the opposite direction when the lamp is raised to itsposition for use, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a vertically-adjustable electric lamp, andconductors arranged to bein electrical connection therewith in itsdifferent positions of adjustment, of a switch mounted on the lamp, anddevices for automatically opening the shuntmircuit and closing thelamp-circuit when the lamp is raised to the proper position for use, andfor automatically closing the shunt-circuit and opening the lamp-circuitwhen the lamp is lowered, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a vertically-adjustable electric lamp andflexible supportingconductors connected therewith, of a pivoted switchmounted on the lamp, a contact-point at each end of the switch, onebeing the terminal of a short circuit and the other being one of thelamp-terminals, a spring or equivalent device for moving the switch inone direction, and a stationary stud or projection arranged toautomatically move the switch in the opposite direction when the lamp israised to its position for use, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a vertically-adjustable electric lamp andflexible supporting conductors connected therewith, of a supportingcasing provided with spring actuated drums to which the upper ends ofthe flexible conductors are attached, said casing being constructed withan opening within which the tube of the lamp may enter when the lamp israised to its position for use, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this.

HENRY A. SEYMOUR.

Witnesses HERMAN MORAN, .E. I. NOTTINGHAM.

